IDRA and the Mexican Consulate in San Antonio Begin New Partnership
San Antonio, July 2, 2019 — IDRA and the Consulate of Mexico in San Antonio announce a new partnership to help Mexican and Mexican American families navigate the U.S. education system and learn about important educational opportunities in both countries. The program, called the Ventanilla de Orientación Educativa (VOE) and created by the Institute of Mexicans Abroad of the Government of Mexico, provides information on the civil rights of immigrant and English learner students, local educational services, and resources on how to access and succeed in college. VOE also disseminates information on educational opportunities offered by the Mexican government for nationals abroad and develops various courses for immigrant parents.
“We are proud to work with such a proactive and community-oriented Mexican Consulate that understands that all students deserve equal educational opportunity,” said IDRA President & CEO Celina Moreno. “IDRA is committed to building family leadership in education, because we know that when families have the key information they need, they not only take steps for their own children, they support other families as well.”
Examples of services and information the VOE provide include:
- How to approach U.S. K-12 and higher educational institutions;
- How to apply for financial aid in the United States (including FAFSA and TAFSA);
- Information regarding resources for adult and community education in Spanish
- Opportunities to continue studying if you return to Mexico;
- The rights of immigrant students to attend public school;
- The rights of English learners to an equal educational opportunity; and
- Online educational opportunities in Mexico for students in the United States.
“We started the VOE program last year with great results and now we are truly thrilled for this partnership with IDRA that certainly will broaden access to education resources and opportunities in benefit to our community: youngsters and parents alike. The message is clear: if you want to continue your education, there are always options, you just need to have the right information at hand, and that is what we do at VOE,” said Lluvia Ponce, Consul for Community Affairs at the Consulate of Mexico in San Antonio. “We want to empower the Mexican and Mexican American community through education and in order to do so, we need to start by acknowledging the power of informed decision making in our future.”
The VOE offers services at no cost and welcomes walk-ins at the Consulate of Mexico in San Antonio (127 Navarro Street, San Antonio, Texas 78205). It operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
For more on IDRA’s VOE program, contact Dr. Nilka Avilés at nilka.aviles@idra.org, or at the Consulate of Mexico contact Lluvia Ponce at lponce@sre.gob.mx.
Media contact: Christie Goodman, APR, IDRA Director of Communications, christie.goodman@idra.org, 210-444-1710
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